Report: HBO's GIRLS Star Near Deal for STAR WARS: EPISODE VII Villain

Update: While this is far from official confirmation, Driver's costar (and boss) on Girls just tweeted out that she's "VERY proud of Adam Driver re: Star Wars." That sounds like it's something he's talking about to the people he works with, getting his schedules lined up and such, but we'll still wait for Disney before we start mocking up a red lightsaber into his hand.

We're VERY proud of Adam Driver re: Star Wars. He's about to rip a hole in da force. Is that a thing? I guess I should see those movies?

Original Story: Could the next Sith Lord be nearly cast? With Star Wars: Episode VII due to start preliminary shooting in just a month, it's about time for some real casting news to finally hit, and Variety says they have the first one.

Their report says that Adam Driver, known for his role as the neurotic boyfriend of Hannah Horvath on HBO's Girls, is nearing a deal to play "the villain" in Episode VII. The film, directed by J.J. Abrams and due in theaters December 18, 2015, has had many rumors but no actual casting as of yet - unless you count the diminutive droid R2D2.

The main villain role is described only as "in the vein of Darth Vader," according to Variety, meaning he'll most likely be a powerful Sith Lord. The Sith are the evil counterparts of the heroic Jedi in the Star Wars mythos. While Abrams and co-writer Lawrence Kasdan have been very tight-lipped about the script they recently finished writing, most rumors have circled around the children of the original trio of heroes, Han Solo, Leia, and Luke, being stars of the film alongside that trio, who will receive something of a sendoff. Episode VIII and Episode IX are also planned, to continue the story.

Walt Disney Studios and Lucasfilm have still declined comment on any casting. Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, and Carrie Fisher have all been rumored (to varying degrees) to be in talks to reprise their roles.